A man was shot and killed near 39th Avenue and Grover on May 28, and the suspect detained at the scene told officers it was in self-defense.
Monday, May 30, 2022
AL: Woman Waves Gun in Road Rage Incident, Victim Fires Back
According to witnesses, Kayla Figgers pulled into a parking lot and confronted a man and his girlfriend, believing they had cut her off in traffic. Figgers reportedly pointed a gun at the man and he fired a weapon in return, hitting her vehicle.
A Tuscaloosa Police officer was in the parking lot at the time and heard the shots. The officer confronted the man and took him into custody. After investigating what happened, Figgers was taken into custody and charged with menacing. Her bond was set for $1,000.
Sunday, May 29, 2022
WV: Woman Armed with Pistol Stops Mass Shooting by Man with an AR15
Police say they discovered that earlier that night, Butler was approached about speeding in the apartment complex while children were playing. Police say Butler then left the complex and returned a short time later when he parked his vehicle in front of the apartment, pulled out an AR-15 style rifle and started firing at people attending a party.
Police say a bystander attending the party quickly pulled out her pistol and fired at Butler, fatally injuring him.
“Instead of running from the threat, she engaged with the threat and saved several lives last night,” said Lieutenant Tony Hazelett. “She was lawfully carrying a firearm and stopped a threat. There was a graduation party and a party with kids so obviously someone just graduated high school and we could have had a casualty shooting.”
LA: Parking Lot Argument leads to Gunfight, Man Arrested for Assault
A man who was shot and injured after he pulled a gun on another man and two children in an Albertson's parking lot has been arrested for aggravated assault, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said.
According to an affidavit, Jonathan Young, Jr., 22, was loading groceries into his car in the parking lot of the Albertson's on George O'Neal Road when he began to argue with a man sitting with two young children in a nearby white sedan.Saturday, May 28, 2022
LA: Robbery Victim Shoots Robbery Sspect
HAMMOND, La. (WVUE) - A 17-year-old was shot in the chest after getting into a struggle with a resident in what the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is saying was an armed robbery.
District Attorney Scott Perrilloux’s office says that Ermonee “Money” Bell, 17, of Hammond, will be charged as an adult due to the severity of the crimes. Bell faces armed robbery, attempted first-degree murder, and one count of illegal carrying of a weapon.
KS followup : Domestic Defense, No Charges for Woman who Shot, Killed Husband
No charges will be brought against a Leavenworth County woman who fatally shot her husband last fall in self defense, the county attorney announced Tuesday. Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson wrote in a letter saying that the woman had caused the death of her husband only to defend herself.
WY: Domestic Defense, Woman Defends New Boyfriend from Old Boyfriend
A Riverton woman reportedly shot and critically wounded a man who broke into her home early Saturday morning.
According to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, dispatchers received a 911 call from a 31-year-old woman reporting that she shot her ex-boyfriend after he broke into her home on North Smith Road in Riverton.
The woman also told authorities that the intruder attacked her current boyfriend.
Thursday, May 26, 2022
FL: 69-Year-Old Shoots, Kills Intruder
ORLANDO, Fla. – A 69-year-old woman shot and killed an intruder Sunday afternoon during a home invasion in Orange County, according to sheriff’s officials.
The fatal shooting happened around 12:30 p.m. in the 6500 block of Bentwood Street, near Colonial Drive and Semoran Boulevard.
CA: Gunfight, Victim Wounded Robber Killed
ANTIOCH, Calif. - An Antioch man allegedly shot and killed a man who attempted to rob him out of self-defense early Friday morning, police said.
Police received reports of a shooting around 3:31 a.m. on the 2100 block of Lemontree Way, officials said.
Police said they found two men who were shot at the scene.
WA: Kidnaping and disarm Attempt, Victim Shoots Attacker
SPOKANE, Wash. — A suspect was taken to the hospital after a victim reportedly shot him in the leg after wrestling over a handgun.
Spokane Valley deputies responded at an apartment complex on E 6th Ave near S Eastern Rd for a report of a possible shooting/robbery on Tuesday around 2:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
CA: Gunfight, Homeowner Shoots, Kills, 1 of 2 Armed Intruders
While searching for the source of the noise, the man was confronted by a male suspect who was armed with a handgun and both people opened fire, the news release stated.
The unidentified suspect suffered gunshot wounds to his upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene. A handgun belonging to the suspect was found, the Sheriff’s Department stated.
The residents were not injured in the incident.
TX: Armed Victim Shoots, Kills man Who Demanded his Corvett
It all started when the suspect tried to rob a man who was at Cafe
Awtar, a late night Mediterranean restaurant in the same strip of
businesses, according to HPD.
Police said the suspect was heard telling the man, who had a new model Chevy Corvette, "Give me your car."
"A couple of witnesses did see the vast majority of what occurred," HPD Det. Jason Campbell said.
That man, however, was armed and shot the suspect in defense, police said.
"He felt his life was in danger and was able to return fire and shoot the decedent two or three times," Campbell said.
Monday, May 23, 2022
Ammo Prices Starting Down? Federal .22 At Yuma Walmart, 6.5
In 2020, demand for ammunition grew. Ammunition became difficult to find. Ammunition prices shot up. Record gun sales were recorded in 2020 and 2021. We were in another ammunition supply bubble.
The ammunition bubble may be starting to leak. At the local Walmart, on May 19, 2022, there were about 20 thousand rounds of Federal Automatch in 325 round bulk packs. At $21.16 per 325 rounds, that is 6.51 cents per round, significantly lower than this correspondent has seen for months. The Automatch has generally received good reviews for reliability and accuracy, when used for the ordinary tasks a .22 rimfire is set to perform.
In addition, there were about 7 thousand rounds of CCI standard velocity at $4.83 per 50 rounds, or 9.66 cents per round. There were about a thousand rounds of Winchester Super X in 222 round packs at $18.83, or 8.48 cents per round. Much of the Federal .22 was stored on the bottom shelf, outside the frame of the picture above.
The clerk at the store was very helpful. He said ammunition had been coming in more regularly than had been the case in the last several months.
These prices may appear high in historical terms. When we look at them under the lens of inflation, they appear more reasonable.
When inflation is taken into account, ordinary .22 Long Rifle rounds in 1950 would cost 16.8 cents in 2022 dollars.
In 1960, they would cost 15 cents in 2022 dollars. In 1970, they would cost 9.5 cents. Jumping to 1990, they would cost 5.6 cents. In 2005 the cost had dropped to 4.2 cents. Those prices are from price lists, known today as manufacturers suggested retail prices.
Alert shoppers can find sales, discounts, or other ways to lower the price even more. Many shooters have told of finding sale prices lower than 2 cents a round in the 1990s. Those prices were equivalent to lower than 4 cents a round in 2022 dollars. In 2018, particular sale prices dipped to 2.5 cents a round.
The 6.5 cents per round price is higher than it was 17 years ago. There has been historically high demand for ammunition for several years.
This correspondent is unwilling to predict whether the price of ammunition will rise or fall in the immediate future. The future seems especially murky at the moment, with many trends toward instability. The war in Ukraine, supply chain woes, and soaring energy costs all have the possibility of pushing ammunition prices up. If the American Republic survives, constant dollar ammunition prices will probably trend down in a few years, but inflation may have raised the nominal cost as the value of the dollar deteriorates.
Ammunition manufacturers are working hard, running as long as possible, and putting out about 5 billion rounds of .22 rimfire for the United States every year. A fair amount of that ammunition is imported. Aguila ramped up its production significantly in the last decade. It exports significant amounts to the USA from Mexico. While the volume is not as great, Armscor is sending .22 rimfire to the USA from the Philippines.
The United States is the biggest market for .22 rimfire ammunition in the world. No other country comes close. The single Walmart sighting of a lower priced ammunition supply may be an unrepresentative blip.
Readers are invited to inform us of .22 rimfire prices at their location.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
TX: Homeowner Uses AR15 to Hold Suspect for Police
Ford said the homeowner, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle, met the suspect after he broke into the home. The homeowner held the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived at the scene. The man was charged with burglary of a habitation and was taken to the Henderson County Jail. The BPD chief said the burglary suspect was not armed.
Authorities were unable to locate the female suspect in Brownsboro, so the search was called off. Ford said.
KY: Domestic Defense? Juvenile in Home Shoots, Kills Man Assaulting Girlfriend
According to the sheriff’s office, 26-year-old Travis Popplewell, of Stanford, Ky., was assaulting his girlfriend and a juvenile in the home when another juvenile shot Popplewell with a handgun.
Popplewell was pronounced dead at the scene by the coronerWV: Homeowner Holds Car Burglary Suspect at Gunpoint for Police
Upon arrival officers made contact with the homeowner and the suspect, Zachary Harmon, no age or address available, according to a statement issued Thursday by the police department.
“Mr. Harmon was immediately arrested without incident. Mr. Harmon had several items from the homeowners vehicles in his backpack, which were documented and returned,” according to police. “Also inside Mr. Harmon’s backpack were several items belonging to other residents throughout the immediate area. Officers were able to locate most of the victims that night and return their property, including the backpack Mr. Harmon had used to store the other stolen property, which he had stolen out of another vehicle much earlier in the night.”
Illegal Votes are far more Dangerous than Illegal guns
Illegal votes are far more dangerous than illegal guns. Illegal votes threaten the very structure of the United States. They place organized criminals and incompetents in power over the criminal justice system. At the national level they can determine who controls the military and the intelligence services. This places all of society at risk.
If you doubt illegal vote trafficking is a problem, see 2000Mules. It removes 95% of any doubt. Once a vote is paid for or leaves the proper chain of custody, it is an illegal vote.
Trafficking in illegal votes has long been a feature in Democrat politics, particularly in crowded urban areas, where it is most easily accomplished. The police in the urban areas are controlled by city governments. It becomes very difficult for police to enforce voting laws which are subverted by the political machine. The machine controls police salaries and promotions. The political machine appoints their leadership.
Immigrants in Democrat controlled urban areas are particularly susceptible to having their votes trafficked. They often come from countries where political corruption is expected. It was true with Tammany Hall, it is true today.
As the media has become an arm of the Democrat party, trafficking in illegal votes has become easier. The local police are controlled by the people who gained power through vote trafficking; the media is unwilling to expose the people whose politics they approve of.
The 2020 election shows the severe danger from illegal vote trafficking. An illicit and criminal administration has come to power, propped up by a media which has become the propaganda arm of the state.
Here are the results:
- An insane method of extracting our troops from Afghanistan. 80 billion dollars of equipment turned over to the Taliban, the Chinese, and anyone who is willing to go their and pay bargain basement prices.
- A horrific war in Ukraine, which would have been prevented if the legitimate candidate were elected. Tens of thousands dead as a result. The war is ongoing. The administration appears unconcerned with the threat of nuclear retaliation.
- Hundreds of billions of dollars wasted on schemes meant to enrich the politically connected, which result in inflation, impoverishing the poor and middle class.
- Direct attacks on the Bill of Rights to include freedom of speech and the right to keep and bear arms. While not yet successful, these are meant to keep the current regime in power.
- Historic increases in the homicide rate resulting from the deliberate demonization of the police. Several thousand are dead as a result.
- Economic chaos which results in impoverishment for tens of millions of Americans.
Illegal guns do far less damage.
There are relatively few illegal guns in the United States. Nearly all the guns in the United States are legal. Guns which are illegal for most people to possess fall into three broad categories.
There are fully automatic firearms, of which there are a limited supply, by law. Some illegal automatics are smuggled in, some are made at home or in small shops.
There are short barreled rifles and shotguns, which require a $200 tax and a significant regulatory burden to legally possess. They are exceedingly simple to manufacture. A hand saw and 15 minutes is sufficient to shorten the barrel on a shotgun. A little more time is required to shorten the barrel on a rifle. Use a power cutter and the time is reduced to a minute.
Illegal short barreled rifles and shotguns are crude pistols. Ordinary pistols are legal, plentiful, and effective.
Ordinary rifles, pistols, and shotguns can be made illegal to possess by removing an existing serial number. Removing the serial number does nothing to make them more lethal.
Outside of those three categories, there are a few extremely rare examples which are difficult to legally possess. There may be a small number of rifled firearms of more than .50 caliber, "not suitable for sporting purposes" which are illegally possessed. The .577 and .600 Nitro Express elephant rifles are exempted. There may be a few shotguns of greater than 10 gauge which are illegally possessed. They are such a tiny number, crimes committed with them are virtually non-existent.
What are the consequences of illegal guns? One may argue illegal automatic firearms result in a few more illegal deaths and nonfatal casualties in a given year, simply because more projectiles are likely to be fired, from illegal automatic firearms.
Against this conjecture is the likelihood such shooting will not be aimed, and thus far less likely to hit someone. Shooting the same number of projectiles from legal to possess semi-automatics only takes a few seconds more, and is more likely to be controlled and aimed.
The vast majority of guns used in crime are legal guns. Of the top 20 gun makes and calibers confiscated by Chicago police in 2014, none were models which were illegal to own, buy, or sell. All of them were handguns. Some may have had serial numbers removed. Most the the people committing crimes with them probably possessed them illegally, but the guns themselves were not illegal.
In Minneapolis, in 2018, the police showed what type of guns were confiscated, most of them in traffic stops. Of the 704 guns confiscated only 10% were rifles and shotguns. Any illegal short barreled rifles and shotguns would be a small subset of those. Only 112 of the 704 were seized in connection with a crime of violence.
Some devices are illegally imported to make illegal automatics. In 2019, it was reported 256 illegal switches were ordered by people in the Chicago area. It was not clear how many years the were covered with the number. About 6,000 firearms are confiscated in the Chicago area every year.
An AP story found 78 instances of automatic gunfire in the first 9 months of 2022, totaling 935 rounds in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. In the story, 1 person was killed in incidents traced to automatic fire, and ten people were wounded. The story reported the number of gunshot victims was approaching 550 for the period recorded. Given the relative scarcity of the devices, 2 percent of victims seems plausible.
The number of people shot could have been the same or higher if legal semi-automatic guns, or even pump shotguns were used in the crimes.
Assuming, for the sake of argument, automatic guns doubled the number of people shot in those incidents, about 1% of those shot would be attributed to illegal guns.
One percent is about 200 homicides and about 800 nonfatal firearm injuries, per year. The numbers are likely much, much smaller.
Those are very small numbers compared to the death and destruction caused by illegal vote trafficking. Illegal vote trafficking results in criminal and/or incompetent leadership by definition. The leadership does not appear to have the best interest of the voters at heart.
It takes a lot of money to run a widespread illegal vote trafficking organization. Over half a billion was spent in 2022.
When you are contesting the control of an economy worth several trillion a year, half a billion is chump change.
Just as the Tammany Gang gave a few scraps to the immigrants they used to fuel their illegal vote trafficking, so the left gives a few scraps to their voting base.
The country suffers immensely.
Illegal votes are far more damaging then illegal guns.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
Sunday, May 22, 2022
OH: Man Stops Hatchet attack in Park by Shooting Suspect
MCCONNELSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — A Cleveland man was arrested after using a hatchet to attack a visitor to the Jesse Owens State Park.
Anthony Charles Senyak, 58, was arrested Sunday for reportedly attacking a man who was watching the lunar eclipse at a campsite in the Jesse Owens State Park, according to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office. Around 11 p.m. Sunday, the camper was sitting in his van when Senyak approached his campsite and asked for a ride. When the camper refused to give him a ride, Senyak became enraged and attacked the victim with his hatchet.
MN: Domestic Defense, Father Shoots Daughter's Boyfriend who Broke Door
A 56-year-old man told investigators that his daughter’s boyfriend broke kicked in his front door, threatened his daughter, and he shot him.
Paramedics pronounced Barnes dead at the scene.
CA: 74-Year-Old Woman Shoots Man in self Defense
The man was found in the driveway of a home and succumbed to his injuries at the scene, police said. His name has not been released.
Investigators detained three people at the home and learned that a 74-year-old woman there has an elder abuse restraining order against the man because of a history of physical violence, and more alleged violence by the man led her to shoot him in self-defense, according to police.
LA: Father Shoots, Kills Son in Defense of Son's Girlfriend
We now know more details regarding a fatal shooting in Carencro on Wednesday evening and police say it was self-defense.
The incident took place at a mobile home in the 100 block of Sateen Royale Circle. Carencro Police say the shooting took place around 7:30 pm.
Upon arrival, they found 34-year-old Terrence Valliere dead after being shot by his father Cuba Valliere.
We now know more details regarding a fatal shooting in Carencro on Wednesday evening and police say it was self-defense.
The incident took place at a mobile home in the 100 block of Sateen Royale Circle. Carencro Police say the shooting took place around 7:30 pm.
Upon arrival, they found 34-year-old Terrence Valliere dead after being shot by his father Cuba Valliere.
Read More: Carencro Police Say Father Shot & Killed Son Out of Self-Defense | https://973thedawg.com/carencro-police-say-father-shot-and-killed-son-out-of-self-defense-protecting-sons-girlfriend/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Newton County AR Removes Barrier for Armed County Employees
On Monday, April 11th, the Newton County Quorum Court in Arkansas voted unanimously to remove restrictions on the concealed carry of weapons by County employees who have a concealed carry permit. From ky3.com:
JASPER, Ark. (KY3) - The Newton County Quorum Court, by unanimous vote, will allow county employees to carry their concealed firearms while on the job.
The quorum court felt it is essential for each county employee to be able to defend themselves or others when the need arises. As long as the employee has a valid concealed carry permit, they can carry their gun.
A now-famous drive-by shooting rattled the Newton County Courthouse in 1949. While nothing similar has happened since it is one reason county justices aren’t taking any chances.
On April 9th, 2015, Arkansas passed a modest Second Amendment reform bill into law. SB1259 became Act 1259. The reform allowed quorum courts to remove the ban on carrying concealed weapons from people who worked in county courthouses, and who had concealed carry permits.
Courthouses are one of several places where ordinary citizens are prohibited from exercising their Second Amendment rights in Arkansas. Other "gun free zones" are public buildings, schools, school buses, the state capitol, police or sheriff stations or offices, inside the passenger terminal at an airport, and others.
According to the Newton County Times, there are several places in county facilities where the employees are still banned from carrying concealed weapons. From facebook.com:
The licensee is still prohibited from conceal carrying a weapon in any detention facility, in an office of the sheriff's department, or in any courtroom, court chambers or court offices without permission from the presiding judge. The quorum court, in passing the ordinance, affirms the right to bear arms as granted by the second amendment of the United States Constitution, and desires to facilitate each employee's ability to defend themselves and others when necessary.
Local governments across the United States are working to restore the rights of government employees to bear arms. Most of the bans are the result of short sighted personnel policies rather than statutory bans, such as exist in Arkansas. Government employees should have the same Constitutionally guaranteed rights as all citizens. Restoring rights to government employees is part of normalizing the restoration of Second Amendment rights in general.
Bowling Green in Kentucky restored the right of public employees to be armed at work in 2018. Lake county Florida restored some of the right to carry for public workers in 2018, as did Hernando County, Florida. In 2016, Virginia and Georgia counties restored the parts of the right to bear arms to their employees. Employees of local governments have regained some of their rights in Kansas, North Carolina, Michigan, and Texas.
Commentary:
Government workers should not have extra special rights. They should
have the same rights everyone else has. Bureaucrats who have the same
rights as ordinary citizens are more likely to uphold those rights. They
will have "skin in the game".
In the Soviet Union, in the early years, members of the Communist Party were automatically given firearms, particularly pistols. It was a perk which came with party membership. Later, the party eliminated the privilege, as the party concentrated power in a smaller and smaller circle.
When the right to bear arms is seen as a perk of political power for a small elite, it works against the Constitution and limited government. When it is seen as a broadly applied right, possessed by the vast majority of people, the Constitution and limited government are re-enforced.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
SC: Gunfight, 13-Year-Old Defends Home, Kills one Burglar
A 13-year-old South Carolina boy fatally shot one burglary suspect and scared off a second with his mother’s gun, police said.
The unidentified teenager told the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office that he was alone on Tuesday afternoon in his family’s home, north of North Charleston, when someone tried to break in, according to NBC affiliate WCBD.
The boy grabbed his mother’s gun, and then waited at the back door of the home, the station reported. Police say the boy fired repeatedly through the door, and someone outside shot back.
TN: Man Shot, Killed Attempting to Force way into Residences
According to Lenoir City Police, one man was found shot and killed Tuesday after trying to force his way into two different residences. After officers got a call about the first disturbance, they were notified the male had tried to force his way into another home where he was shot multiple times.
VA: No Charges for man who Shot, Killed Shafi Yassin Rasheed
UPDATE 2:29 p.m.: Danville officials announced Wednesday that a man will not face any criminal charges after he reportedly shot and killed another man in self-defense at an apartment complex in mid-April.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Danville, Michael Newman, says a manslaughter indictment was presented to the grand jury, but they did not return a true bill.Friday, May 20, 2022
FL: Gun Beats Knife in Road Rage Incident in Palm Coast
An intense road rage dispute between two motorists in Florida landed one of them behind bars Tuesday after he pulled out a knife, prompting the victim to display a gun, authorities said.
Rafael Vincent Rivera, 50, was arrested and charged
with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill in
connection with the confrontation in Palm Coast, about 80 miles north of
Orlando, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office said.
GA: Police Investigation Reveals MARTA Shooting was Self Defense
Atlanta police have closed an investigation into a deadly shooting at the Ashby MARTA station after determining the shooter acted in self-defense, officials announced Monday.
The incident took place just before 7:30 p.m. May 8 at the transit station on Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard. According to police, two men were involved in a dispute that escalated to gunfire. The victim, later identified as 38-year-old Earl West Jr. of Fort Valley, died at a hospital.
Days after the shooting, investigators asked for the public’s help to identify the shooter and released two surveillance videos recorded on a MARTA bus. The videos showed the man boarding and exiting the bus wearing a distinctive backpack with a shark design.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
10-year-old Arizonan uses Airgun in Self Defense
At about 9 p.m. on May 4th, in the 5700 block of Azalia Street, a 17 year old teenager was shot, as reported by Pinal Central. From pinalcentral.com:
CASA GRANDE — The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Wednesday night shooting that is being described as an attempted homicide near Casa Grande.
At approximately 9 p.m. PCSO received a call regarding a 17-year-old boy who had been shot in the 5700 block of Azalia Street, a neighborhood off Pinal Avenue that is unincorporated, following an argument.
The victim was transported to a hospital, where he underwent surgery and is expected to survive.
Details of what happened were not clear. Casa Grande is in Arizona, close to the junction of Interstate 8 and 10, between Yuma and Tucson, on I-8. It is between Phoenix and Tucson on I-10.
Azalia street is a set of modest homes in an unincorporated area, so it falls under the jurisdiction of the Pinal County Sheriff.
Jeremy Beren of Newsbreak broke the story. A 10-year-old had used an airgun in self defense. This correspondent contacted the Pinal County Sheriff's office and received confirmation from Lauren Reimer, Public Information Officer. From the Pinal County Sheriff's Office:
On 5/4 around 9pm, PCSO received a call regarding a 17-year-old male who had been shot after an argument. The victim was transported to the hospital where he underwent surgery and is expected to survive.
Detectives were able to determine a 10-year-old child shot the 17-year-old in an act of self-defense using a high velocity pellet gun. Potential charges for the 17 year old are under review.
Children using firearms for self-defense make the news now and then. This is the first time this correspondent has read of a 10 year-old-old using a pellet gun with sufficient effect to cause hospitalization of the aggressor.
Air guns have had the potential for serious injuries for hundreds of years. The famous Girondoni air rifle was a military weapon which was used on the Lewis and Clark expedition across the American West from 1804 to 1806. It was a pre-charged .46 caliber air rifle.
Most pellet rifles today are .177 or .22 caliber. Some pre-charged guns range up to .50 caliber. Even a common .177 caliber air rifle can cause serious injuries. Every few years, a person dies from being shot with an air rifle. Most are children. The most common placement for fatal shots is to the heart or to the brain.
This correspondent received his first air rifle at age 11. Many ten year old children are capable of cocking and loading common air rifles. Cartridge firearms take less effort to load and shoot.
The incident in Casa Grande, a mile south of the Casa Grande airport, is still under investigation. We may never know all the details. Many 10 year old children are capable of understanding threats and may need to defend themselves. As with all ages, there is a wide variation in maturity and abilities. Some children show significant responsibility and careful thought at early ages. Other people never mature to the point of taking responsibility for themselves and their actions.
In this case, the investigators from the sheriff's office are convinced it was justifiable self defense. The question now is whether the offense by the 17-year-old should be prosecuted, or not.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
GA: Armed Woman Shoots Man who Impersonated a Police Officer
Atlanta
police revealed Monday that the female ride-share driver who shot a man
in a Target parking lot overnight actually may have saved her own life,
as the wounded individual will now face criminal charges for allegedly posing as a police officer and following the woman until she thwarted his efforts by whipping out her firearm.
FL: Gunfight, Lauderhill Homeowner Shoots , Kills Intruder
An intruder who climbed through the window of a home in Lauderhill was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire with a man inside the home, Lauderhill Police said.
The incident happened just after 11:00 p.m. Sunday in the 5900 block of Northwest 23rd Street.
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
IN: Homeowner Shoots, Kills, 2 of 4 Intruders
AUBURN, Ind. (WANE) — An Auburn homeowner shot two suspected armed intruders dead and held two more at gunpoint early Sunday.
It was just before 6 a.m. when four people reportedly broke into a home at 1650 S.R. 8, near the Walmart Distribution Center on Auburn’s far west side.
OH: 71-Year-Old Shoots Intruder During Struggle
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A 71-year-old man shot a suspect that was breaking into his garage early Saturday, police say.
At 3:14 a.m. the Columbus Division of Police was called to the 1100 Block of Carolyn Ave after a shooting.
The victim said he woke up to someone breaking into his garage and went to confront the suspect with a gun.
According to police, there was a struggle and the victim's gun "accidentally went off," striking the suspect in the upper chest.
Monday, May 16, 2022
VA: Attempted Carjacking results in one Dead, one Seriously Injured
One person is dead and another is hurt following an alleged carjacking at an Alexandria, Virginia gas station.
It happened just after 3 p.m. Friday on the 2300 block of Richmond Highway just south of Potomac Yard.
When police arrived, they found one male who was dead and another with serious injuries, Alexandria police spokesman Courtney Ballantine said.
Sunday, May 15, 2022
PA: Armed Victim Shoots, Kills Robber
PHILADELPHIA - Police say a robber is dead after being shot by the man he was trying to rob in South Philadelphia Wednesday night.
A 24-year-old man was smoking a cigarette outside his house on the 2200 block of South 6th Street when a man approached on a bicycle, according to police.
OR: Shooting of Tresspasser Deemed Justified
GRANTS PASS — The Jackson County District Attorney's office announced the decision not to press charges against a 79-year-old man who shot and killed a man he assumed to be trespassing on a neighbor's property. The DA's office said the man was acting in reasonable self-defense because he believed the trespasser, 65-year-old Brian Patrick Arnold, had a gun, when in fact, the object in his jacket was a flashlight.
The state said they were not able to disprove Bradley's self-defense claim because Bradley's testimony was more reliable than the other eye-witness in the incident, who said Bradley fired without cause.
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Ninth Circuit: California Ban on Sales of Semi-Automatic Centerfire Rifles to 18-20 Year Olds Violates 2A
On May 11, 2022, a three judge panel of the Ninth Circuit, based in California, struck down California's ban on the sale of semi-automatic centerfire rifles to young adults ages 18-20. The case is Jones v. Bonta. Bonta is the current Attorney General of the State of California. The opinion was filed precisely a year after the appeal was submitted on May 12, 2021.
The decision was mixed, with Judges Nelson and Lee in the majority, and Judge Stein dissenting.
The District court had held a requirement to possess a hunting license, in order to purchase any long gun, was permissible under the Constitution and intermediate scrutiny. State law was changed while the case was under review, to ban nearly all 18-20 year old people from purchasing centerfire semi-automatic long guns. The plaintiffs were allowed to amend their complaint. The District court then held the ban on semi-automatic centerfire rifles did not violate the Second Amendment.
The three judge panel of the Ninth Circuit disagreed. They held the requirement for a hunting license did not violate the Second Amendment, but the ban on the purchase of semi-automatic rifles by 18-20 year old people violated the Second Amendment. From the decision:
America would not exist without the heroism of the young adults who fought and died in our revolutionary army. Today we reaffirm that our Constitution still protects the right that enabled their sacrifice: the right of young adults to keep and bear arms.
California has restricted the sale of most firearms to anyone under 21. Plaintiffs challenged the bans on long guns and semiautomatic centerfire rifles under the Second Amendment. The district court declined to issue a preliminary injunction.
We hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in declining to enjoin the requirement that young adults obtain a hunting license to purchase a long gun. But the district court erred in not enjoining an almost total ban on semiautomatic centerfire rifles. First, the Second Amendment protects the right of young adults to keep and bear arms, which includes the right to purchase them. The district court reasoned otherwise and held that the laws did not burden Second Amendment rights at all: that was legal error. Second, the district court properly applied intermediate scrutiny to the long gun hunting license regulation and did not abuse its discretion in finding it likely to survive. But third, the district court erred by applying intermediate scrutiny, rather than strict scrutiny, to the semiautomatic centerfire rifle ban. And even under intermediate scrutiny, this ban likely violates the Second Amendment because it fails the “reasonable fit” test. Finally, the district court also abused its discretion in finding that Plaintiffs would not likely be irreparably harmed. We thus affirm the district court’s denial of an injunction as to the long gun regulation, reverse its denial of an injunction as to the semiautomatic centerfire rifle ban, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
The tradition in the Ninth Circuit has become one in which any three judge panel which upholds a substantive right to arms under the Second Amendment will be re-heard by an enbanc panel, where the decision will be reversed. The hostility to the Second Amendment by the Ninth Circuit has become predictable and certain.
The question of age requirements for the exercise of the right to keep and bear arms is under review in other circuits. A Florida law banning the sale of long guns to 18-20 year old people is in the Fifth Circuit. In the Fourth Circuit, the appeals court struck down a federal law banning sales of handguns to 18-20 year old people.
The issue is likely to make its way to the Supreme Court at some time.
Currently, the Supreme Court has heard the New York Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen case; it will likely issue an opinion by the end of June this year, 2022.
The NYR&PA case deals with the right to bear arms outside the home. It is likely to reveal more of the Court's thinking on the Second Amendment generally. One possibility is it may strike down the convoluted "two tier" test to determine if a law is permissible under the Second Amendment. The "two tier" test has devolved into a method allowing the courts to find nearly any infringement on Second Amendment rights to be acceptable, according to a member of the Ninth Circuit. From reason.com:
"Our circuit has ruled on dozens of Second Amendment cases," VanDyke noted, "and without fail has ultimately blessed every gun regulation challenged, so we shouldn't expect anything less here."
It is almost certain the Supreme Court decision in the NYR&PA case will be published before an enbanc panel is convened to reverse the recent three judge panel decision in the Ninth Circuit on the ban of the sale of semi-automatic rifles to 18-20 year old people. --
.©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
VA: Shooting in Motel room Deemed Justified
DUMFRIES, Va. (WRIC) — A motel room shooting that occurred on Monday, May 9, in Dumfries resulted in one injured. However, Prince William County Police Department determined the shooting to be justified.
Shortly after 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a suspected shooting at the Motel 6 located at 17133 Dumfries Road.
An investigation into the incident revealed that two male residents of the motel — a 44-year-old and a 34-year-old — had become involved in a verbal argument in the parking lot.
After a brief physical altercation, the manager of the motel intervened and the two men separated, returning to their rooms.
WA: Domestic Defense, 18-Year-Old Brother Shoots Sister's Boyfriend
Prosecutors will not pursue charges at this time against a Yakima man, 18, who shot his sister’s boyfriend Tuesday.
Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Brusic said Friday his office would not be able to disprove a self-defense claim beyond a reasonable doubt.
“We evaluated all the evidence (Yakima police) had received, and it was a true self-defense case,” Brusic said.
Friday, May 13, 2022
Coyote Attack in Dallas Leaves Child in Critical Condition
On May 3rd, in the Lake Highlands neighborhood of the Dallas metroplex, a coyote attacked a two year old toddler on the front porch of the toddler's residence. It was about 8:30 a.m., according to AP. From Fox4kdfw
On May 3rd, in the Lake Highlands neighborhood of the Dallas metroplex, a coyote attacked a two year old toddler on the front porch. It was about 8:30 a.m., according to AP. From Fox4kdfw:
DALLAS - A 2-year-old child is in critical condition at the hospital after being attacked by a coyote in Dallas.
Police said it happened around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning in the Lake Highlands area while the child was sitting on the front porch of a home on Royalpine Drive, which is not far from White Rock Creek.
Another coyote attack on a toddler had happened a week earlier in Huntington Beach, California.
In Vancouver, Canada, a spate of coyote attacks triggered an official response in 2021. 45 people had been bitten by August of 2021. By the end of the year, eleven coyotes had been culled. No more attacks were reported. Vancouver park authorities made it illegal to feed coyotes.
In Texas, Governor Rick Perry made headlines when he shot an aggressive coyote which appeared to be menacing his dog, while out near Austin, Texas, in December of 2015.
The attack in Dallas was unusually severe. Most coyote attacks on people are bites or nips, where hospitalization is not needed. The Toddler in Dallas survived the attack, was in critical condition at the hospital, but is now recovering at home. From ksat.com:
DALLAS – A 2-year-old boy who was attacked by a coyote
on the porch of his Dallas home is recovering after surgery, and officials searching for the coyote said Thursday that three that were acting aggressively have been killed.
As coyotes have increased in population and adapted to urban areas, coyote attacks have increased. In one research paper 142 incidents were recorded from 1960 to 2006. In overlapping research, 367 incidents were recorded from 1977 to 2015.
When most people were armed, and considered coyotes a pest, coyotes learned to be wary of humans. In urban areas, many people consider coyotes to be closer to Disney characters. Some people value coyotes highly.
Coyotes are a common animal. They are not in any danger of extinction. Coyotes which become habituated to the point they do not fear humans should be removed from the population. While attacks by coyotes on humans are relatively rare, attacks on pets are common.
Eye witness accounts of coyotes taking, killing, and presumably eating pet dogs and cats are common. In one intensive radio collar study, 8 coyotes were found to kill 19 cats over 790 hours of observation (about 32 days). Coyotes also prey upon dogs. A pack of coyotes can pull down even a fairly large dog.
The legality of shooting coyotes to protect humans is fairly clear. If a human is endangered, shooting a coyote is justified. Pets are considered domestic animals.
It is legal to shoot dogs or coyotes which are attacking livestock or domestic animals. Here is the relevant Texas statute:
Sec. 822.013. DOGS OR COYOTES THAT ATTACK ANIMALS. (a) A dog or coyote that is attacking, is about to attack, or has recently attacked livestock, domestic animals, or fowls may be killed by:
(1) any person witnessing the attack; or
(2) the attacked animal’s owner or a person acting on behalf of the owner if the owner or person has knowledge of the attack.
(b) A person who kills a dog or coyote as provided by this section is not liable for damages to the owner, keeper, or person in control of the dog or coyote.
Many Texas cities have laws or regulations forbidding the discharge of firearms in city limits. They usually have exceptions for defense of self or others. It is less clear if an exception would be made for defense of domestic animals.
Texas became a Constitutional Carry state in 2021. Shooting coyotes safely in an urban environment takes extreme care.
It may be acceptable if the coyote approached closely and was not afraid. A shooter would have to be sure of a good backstop, so as to minimize risk to other humans.
Hollow point or frangible bullets would help reduce the chances of a ricochet.
DALLAS - A 2-year-old child is in critical condition at the hospital after being attacked by a coyote in Dallas.
Police said it happened around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning in the Lake Highlands area while the child was sitting on the front porch of a home on Royalpine Drive, which is not far from White Rock Creek.
Another coyote attack on a toddler had happened a week earlier in Huntington Beach, California.
In Vancouver, Canada, a spate of coyote attacks triggered an official response in 2021. 45 people had been bitten by August of 2021. By the end of the year, eleven coyotes had been culled. No more attacks were reported. Vancouver park authorities made it illegal to feed coyotes.
In Texas, Governor Rick Perry made headlines when he shot an aggressive coyote which appeared to be menacing his dog, while out near Austin, Texas, in December of 2015.
The attack in Dallas was unusually severe. Most coyote attacks on people are bites or nips, where hospitalization is not needed. The Toddler in Dallas survived the attack, was in critical condition at the hospital, but is now recovering at home. From ksat.com:
DALLAS – A 2-year-old boy who was attacked by a coyote on the porch of his Dallas home is recovering after surgery, and officials searching for the coyote said Thursday that three that were acting aggressively have been killed.
As coyotes have increased in population and adapted to urban areas, coyote attacks have increased. In one research paper 142 incidents were recorded from 1960 to 2006. In overlapping research, 367 incidents were recorded from 1977 to 2015.
When most people were armed, and considered coyotes a pest, coyotes learned to be wary of humans. In urban areas, many people consider coyotes to be closer to Disney characters. Some people value coyotes highly.
Coyotes are a common animal. They are not in any danger of extinction. Coyotes which become habituated to the point they do not fear humans should be removed from the population.
Texas became a Constitutional Carry state in 2021. Shooting coyotes safely in an urban environment takes extreme care.
It would only be acceptable if the coyote approached closely and was not afraid. A shooter would have to be absolutely sure of a good backstop, so as to minimize risk to other humans.
Hollow point or frangible bullets would help reduce the chances of a ricochet.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
IL: Chicago, Armed Victim Shoots Woman who Pointed Gun at Him
CHICAGO - A concealed carry holder shot a woman in the shoulder after she pointed a gun at him on Chicago's South Side Wednesday night.
The incident occurred in the 4800 block of South Michigan.
At about 10:25 p.m., a 27-year-old woman confronted a 26-year-old man who was walking toward his residence, and pointed a handgun at him.
NE: Jury finds Lendell Harris not Guilty in Shooting Death of Alonzo Jones
The fight was over a woman.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A jury found Lendell Harris, 24, of Lincoln not guilty on Wednesday of second-degree murder, manslaughter and use of a firearm to commit a felony.
Lincoln Police say that in early September, Harris turned himself in for shooting Alonzo Jones, 28, at his apartment.
He was then arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony.
Harris and Jones had a confrontation that led up to the shooting, police said. Harris allegedly produced a gun during the fight and fired it.
WV followup: Grand Jury says no Charges for person who Shot, Killed Tyrone Thompson
In a Monday evening news release, Smith said the regularly scheduled Ohio County grand jury convened and, after a full presentation of the evidence, did not vote to return any charges against the gunman.
Thompson, 35, of Wheeling, was shot and killed on South Huron Street on Wheeling Island around 7:30 p.m. March 19. The shooter was not arrested immediately following the incident, and Wheeling police did not release the shooter’s name because they had not been arrested.
Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger had said the shooter was questioned that night and cooperated with authorities. The shooter had claimed self-defense in the incident, which was one of several possible angles detectives had investigated.
Thursday, May 12, 2022
NICS for April, 2022 Continues Trend: Third Highest on Record
Lines are from 2021. Bars are from 2022.
The National Instant background Check System (NICS) numbers and gun sales for April of 2022 are in. They reveal a consistent trend of gun sales which are the third highest for the month on record.
In April about 1.31 million more private firearms were added to the private stock in the United States. The previous records for April were in 2021 with 1.67 million sold; 2020, with 1.65 million sold, and in third place, 2016 with 1.07 million sold.
2022 is now in the third place position.
It appears there is a "new normal" of gun sales resulting from large numbers of new gun owners and a continuing confluence of instability in multiple sectors of people's lives.
There is instability in the political process. About half the population believes the 2020 election was stolen or "rigged". The convincing documentary of 2000 Mules by Dinesh D'Sousa provides evidence for that view. President Biden's approval ratings are very low.
There is instability in the economy. Inflation is rampant. Gasoline prices are at near record highs; small businesses are in tatters after the disastrous Covid19 lockdown policies.
There is instability in foreign affairs. The hot Russia - Ukraine war continues with a furious pace of casualties and destruction of physical plant. The war seems to serve no useful purpose, except the fight for survival and national ego.
There is instability in information and a severe lack of trust in information. The information war in Ukraine is in full swing, with both sides and outside influencers continually spinning and creating disinformation.
Information is a weapon in war. It is to be expected all sides are attempting to maximize it for their benefit. Trust in media in the United States may be at an all time low. It is difficult to tell how it compares to trust during the Civil war or during the early republic.
There is instability in domestic affairs. Crime levels have shot up to highs last seen 30 years ago, particularly in urban centers. There are mass internal movements as populations flee the instability.
When there is instability, people desire more control over their lives. A primary means of control is the availability of firearms to protect themselves, their families, their property, and their neighborhoods.
In more succinct and classic terms:
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
While the demand for firearms is still high, it has dropped a few percent. Ammunition continues to be priced above the levels in 2019, but is becoming more available. Firearms are more available and firearm prices are trending lower.
Knowing how many gun owners there are in the United States is very difficult. Survey numbers vary significantly. It appears approximately 15 - 18 million new gun owners were created in the last three years. Reasonable numbers of gun owners in the United States could vary from 100 million to 130 million. It is impossible to know with certainty. During times of instability, gun owners are less likely to expose themselves to perceived risk by acknowledging they are gun owners.
If the current trend continues, there will be about 15 million guns sold through the NICS system in 2022, resulting in about 494 million guns in private hands in the United States by the end of 2022. The half of a billion mark will almost certainly be passed in 2023.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
CO Followup: Shooting of Robert Deffenbaugh by Dylan Boyle, was in Self Defense
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - District Attorney Dan Rubinstein has decided not to file charges against Dylan Boyle, 25, who was involved in the shooting death of Robert Deffenbaugh, 41, on March 14, 2022. The shooting occurred at the 29 Mile Apartments at 7:27 a.m.
According to the DA’s letter, Deffenbaugh approached Boyle asking for a ride to the gas station to purchase gas for his vehicle.
Boyle declined, and Deffenbaugh became agitated and proceeded to strike Boyle with a wrench, hitting him above the eye. Then Boyle retrieved “bear mace” from his vehicle and sprayed Deffenbaugh. At that moment, Deffenbaugh ran away, returning with a four-way tire wrench, which he threw at Boyle’s vehicle, denting it.
IL: Retired Sheriff's Officer Shoots, Kills 1 of 3 Armed Robbers
CHICAGO (CBS) -- One of the people accused of attempting to rob a retired Cook County Sheriff's officer in April has died after that retired officer shot him.
According to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, 14-year-old Corey Mason, of Chicago, died Wednesday.
Police say on April 28 shortly after 5 p.m., the 60-year-old victim was walking to his vehicle in the 2800 block of West 66th Street when three men came up and one of them stuck a gun to his back. The other two took his property.
CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported that the retired officer was OK, and all signs showed he had defended himself when the three robbers tried to take everything he had at gunpoint.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
OH: Domestic Defense? 33-Year-Old Phillip Moore Shot, Killed
Columbus police said they received a call around 9:05 p.m. in regards to a domestic dispute involving a gun.
Police said they received another call shortly after reporting that shots had been fired.
Officers arrived a found 33-year-old Phillip Moore suffering from a gunshot wound.
Moore was pronounced dead at 9:37 p.m. at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center.
GA: Shooting at Dekalb County Home Determined to be Justified
Police have determined that a deadly Saturday night shooting in DeKalb County was an act of self-defense.
Two men got into an argument at a home on Wingfoot Court, police said Monday. One of them, 40-year-old Linus White, pulled a gun and shot at another man, according to a news release. The other man returned fire, killing White.
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
An Undocumented Documented Case: Man killed by Wolves in March of 1939
Pack of wolves in Northern Wisconsin
The case of Crist Kolby and his probably death by wolf was first written by W. R. Selfridge and published in 1943 in Alaskan Sportsman. It was published again in 1956 in the book, Blood on the Arctic Snow, and examined again in The Wolves of Alaska: A Fact-based Saga by Jim Rearden, a legendary writer, scientist and historian in Alaska. This article relies on the account in Blood on the Arctic Snow, supplemented with analysis from The Wolves of Alaska, and internet sources for the Ketchican Cemetary and the Thirteenth Annual Alaska Game Commission report, 1936-1937.
In February of 1939, Crist Kolby, a well known and successful Alaskan outdoorsman in Ketchican, Alaska, left to tend his trap line on the Thorn river, located on Prince of Wales Island. He took sufficient supplies for the trip, including a fairly new and top of the line Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolver. Less than 5,000 had been produced at that time. Kolby was routinely armed, known to be a good woodsman and to be in top physical condition, at 40 years old.
When Kolby failed to return by July, the United States Commissioner sent two men to investigate the situation. They found Kolby's base of operations, 10 miles up the river, in the old Hudson cabin, without difficulty. It appeared Kolby had left on a day trip on March 2nd, and had never returned. An extensive search near the cabin discovered a rowboat up a creek. The men came to the conclusion an addition search for his remains would be futile in the summer foliage. They returned to Ketchican with his belongings from the cabin. An executor for his estate was appointed in Ketchican.
Kolby's friends were not satisfied. They suspected foul play. Another expedition was appointed to do a comprehensive search in October of 1939. They took gear to drag the nearby lakes for his body. The head of the expedition was former game warden W.R. Selfridge, who knew the area intimately. Three other men rounded out the investigatory party. They found the cabin as described by the former investigators, late on a Monday afternoon, October 30. Almost a week later, after diligent searching, they found clothes, effects and limited remains they concluded were of Crist Kolby. It was Sunday, November 5th, 1939.
One of the key findings was the holstered revolver, still on a buckled belt, with teeth marks on the holster consistent with wolf bites. The revolver was unloaded. It had a broken mainspring. It was one of the rare (in 1939) .357 magnums. Cartridges were found in a pocket. No pack was found.
Circumstantial evidence strongly suggested Kolby had been pursued by wolves while on the ice of the lake. A coat, sheath knife with wolf bite marks on the handle, and torn shirt sleeve cuff, were found on the shore. The scattered remains of clothes, buckled belt with holstered revolver and knife sheath, and bone fragments, were found 50 feet away, under two trees. Bone fragments and the mostly intact skull were found scattered over a hundred foot radius. The bones of one arm were found three feet from the shore, under water. To the experienced woodsmen reading the sign, only one conclusion fit the evidence:
Crist Kolby had been pursued by wolves. He knew his revolver did not work. He dropped his pack on the ice of the lake, and made it to the shoreline where he fought a little while with his sheath knife, desperately trying to reach climbable trees. Close to the trees he was dragged down and killed.
The fact the revolver was holstered and unloaded supports the hypothesis the broken mainspring had been discovered after Kolby had left the cabin on his final trip. It would be very strange to bring a useless revolver on a trapping expedition. Unloading the revolver and putting the cartridges in a pocket is exactly what an experienced man would do as they attempted to diagnose a problem.
No one with experience would work on a loaded revolver. At the time, all Smith & Wesson .357 magnums were custom ordered. While expensive, at $60, such a revolver indicates a firearms enthusiast. $60 was the equivalent of 3-6 prime mink pelts of the era. In constant dollars, the price would be about $1,100 today.
In November of 1939, the four men of the official investigatory team posted this notice on a tree:
IN MEMORY OF Crist Kolby
Killed and ate up by wolves in March 1939.
Found November 5, 1939. Found by:
W.R. Selfridge
Vic Hautop
W.A. Miller
M. Walker
The bone fragments and skull were gathered and returned to Ketchican. The Ketchican cemetery shows a grave site for a Chris Kolby which appears to date from the era. It does not give a birth date or date of death.
Was Crist or (Chris) Kolby killed by wolves? Probably. He almost certainly was eaten by wolves. A small chance remains he died of exposure, heart attack or other malady/misadventure near the shore of the lake.
It is not impossible a wolf unsheathed the knife, bit it, and carried it to the shoreline, along with the coat and torn shirt cuff, and bones of the arm.
As noted by the investigators at the time, no one had been killed by wolves in Alaska, where the attack was witnessed. Accounts of people treed by aggressive wolves have been fairly common. There have been two in the last decade in the lower 48 states, one in Washington, one in Michigan.
The concept a pack of aggressive wolves would be able to run down a man who only had a belt knife to defend himself, successfully pull him down, and kill him, is uncontroversial.
The evidence demanded to "prove" a person was killed by a wolf or wolves is very difficult to produce. It can be done if there are witnesses, the wolves can be killed to find a DNA match to DNA on the body, and a forensic investigation can be done in a timely manner. Wolf advocates will go to great lengths to prevent such a finding, as documented by Valerius Geist.
In most plausible cases of wolf attacks, those factors will not be available.
Such is the case with Crist Kolby's death. It is an undocumented, documented case of death by wolf.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
TX: San Antonio Homeowner Shoots Suspect who Attempted Break-in
SAN ANTONIO – A man who broke into a West Side home overnight was shot by the homeowner and later tried to run from officers, according to San Antonio police.
The incident happened just after 1:30 a.m. Sunday near Wilmot and Knoke streets, near North General McMullen.
Police said the man tried to break into the home and the homeowner, a man in his 50s, grabbed a gun and shot the suspect twice.
The suspect ran away but was found by emergency medical services down the road.
GA: Husband Shoots, Kills, Naked 25-Year-Old Man who Attacked his 67-Year-Old Wife
LIZELLA, Ga. — Investigators in Georgia say a homeowner shot and killed a naked man who attacked the homeowner’s wife while she was mowing the lawn.
Bibb County Sheriff’s deputies said in a news release that a 67-year-old woman was cutting her grass using a riding mower when a naked man tackled her.
The victim’s husband tried to pull the suspect off her, but was then attacked himself. When the suspect started to attack his wife, the husband got his gun and shot the suspect, WSB reported.
Followup FL: Charges Against Sabrina Hedley Dismissed
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The charges against Sabrina Hendley in the case of the shooting death of her husband have been dismissed.
Hendley could have spent the rest of her life behind bars after deputies said she shot and killed her husband in 2018. Advocates stood in her corner, saying what led up to that night was years of alleged abuse and that she acted in self-defense.
Now years later, the charges against Hendley have been dismissed.
Monday, May 09, 2022
New Hampshire Legislature to Send Reform of Gun Carry on ATVs to Governor Sununu (video)
On April 28, 2022, the New Hampshire Senate voted to pass House Bill 1636, which removes the ban on carrying loaded pistols and revolvers on ATVs and snowmobiles. The bill was passed on a voice vote at about 6:21:30 on this video of the New Hampshire Senate session.
The House passed House Bill 1636 on March 10 with a vote of 204 to 134, with 54 not voting.
New Hampshire passed Constitutional Carry five years ago in February of 2017. Several attempts have been made to remove the ban on ATV and Snowmobile carry, the last being in 2021. Governor Sununu vetoed that bill, HB 336, because it contained reforms of the NICS checks, now done by the New Hampshire State Police. In his veto message, he wrote he would sign a stand along bill to remove the ATV and Snowmobile carry ban. From the Governor's office in 2021:
I support the provisions in this bill that would apply our constitutional right to carry a firearm to OHRVs and snowmobiles, and hope to sign such a bill next year. It is unfortunate that the legislature chose to tack on unrelated legislation that will cause those provisions to not move forward.
As Governor, my record is very clear - I have consistently defended the 2nd amendment rights of New Hampshire's citizens and I remain committed to doing so. New Hampshire's laws are well-crafted and fit our culture of responsible gun ownership and individual freedom. The background check provisions are not about firearms rights, they are about government administrative processes. This bill, which was introduced to solve a problem caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is no longer necessary. New Hampshire has taken steps to improve technology, processes, and staffing in order to address this issue without legislation.
House Bill 1636 is a simple stand alone bill which removes the current ban. From HB 1636:
1 Off Highway Recreational Vehicles; Loaded Firearms Prohibited. Amend RSA 215-A:20 to read as follows:
215-A:20 Loaded Firearms Forbidden. No person shall carry on an OHRV, or a trailer towed by same, any firearms unless said firearm is unloaded. This section shall not apply to law enforcement officers carrying firearms in the course of duty or to pistols or revolvers carried [under a permit issued pursuant to the authority of RSA 159] by any person who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm by a New Hampshire statute.
2 Snowmobiles; Loaded Firearms Forbidden. Amend RSA 215-C:35 to read as follows:
215-C:35 Loaded Firearms Forbidden. No person shall carry on a snowmobile, or a trailer towed by same, any firearms unless said firearm is unloaded. This section shall not apply to law enforcement officers carrying firearms in the course of duty or to pistols or revolvers carried [under a permit issued pursuant to the authority of RSA 159] by any person who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm by a New Hampshire statute.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
There is plenty of time left in the legislative session for Governor Sununu to sign House Bill 1636. The bill was not amended in the Senate. It should go to his office shortly. There are administrative procedures which need to be done to insure the bill's accuracy and legality before it is transferred to the governor for signature.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
MI: Home Invasion Suspect Shot, Killed. Investigation ongoing
It was six o'clock in the morning when police chief David Saad was just getting to work and was called to this home for a reported break-in.
"My officer and I arrived at the scene, it was six am so I was just coming into service as well as him, when we responded down over here, we received the call, and as we were making entry into the residence that's when the shots went off," says Saad.
Saad was in the home and saw the gunshots being fired.
He says the suspect in the home invasion was shot to death. The male homeowner, Saad and the officer were not injured.
CA: Gunfight, Store Employee wounded, released, 1 of 4 Robbery Suspects Wounded
The gunfire broke at the "Smoke Shop" just before 7 p.m. in Compton, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said. Four people entered the store and pointed handguns at an employee behind a counter.
An employee appears to be wearing a ballistic vest with "SECURITY" written on it, according to security footage released by authorities Wednesday. One suspect can be seen taking out a gun and pointing it at him.
The employee pulls out a gun and a gun battle ensued. The suspects trip over each other as they try to flee and fire several rounds at the store employee.
He was shot in the neck and face but was later released from the hospital.
A half-hour after the gunfire exchange, deputies responded to Martin Luther King Hospital for a gunshot victim. Investigators said the victim was one of the four suspects at the smoke shop who had been wounded.
Sunday, May 08, 2022
Misleading numbers: Spectrum Article and Letter to the NEJM
Data from CDC WISQARS
On April 23, Spectrumnews1.com published an article by Ryan Chatelain about a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The letter was about the increase in firearm related deaths among young people aged 0-19. There was a significant increase in 2020 over 2019. Few Americans would be surprised by this, as the increase in homicides, especially in urban centers among young minority adults, is well known. In a peculiar twist, Chatelain attributes the cause of the deaths to firearms. This was a significant change from the letter to the NEJM. From spectrumnews1.com:
Firearms have surpassed automobiles as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States, researchers at the University of Michigan say.
The letter to the NEJM contained the peculiar grouping of young adults 18-19 as "children and adolescents". It was careful not to claim that firearms were the cause of the deaths.
From nejm.com, letter to the editor:
The previous analysis, which examined data through 2016, showed that firearm-related injuries were second only to motor vehicle crashes (both traffic-related and nontraffic-related) as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents, defined as persons 1 to 19 years of age.4 Since 2016, that gap has narrowed, and in 2020, firearm-related injuries became the leading cause of death in that age group (Figure 1).
(snip)
Although the new data are consistent with other evidence that firearm violence has increased during the Covid-19 pandemic,5 the reasons for the increase are unclear, and it cannot be assumed that firearm-related mortality will later revert to prepandemic levels. Regardless, the increasing firearm-related mortality reflects a longer-term trend and shows that we continue to fail to protect our youth from a preventable cause of death.
There are two important differences between the Spectrumnews article and the NEJM letter.
First, the NEJM letter correctly uses the terms "firearm-related injuries" and "motor vehicle crashes", not firearms and automobiles.
Second, the NEJM letter states "the reasons for the increase are unclear". The Spectrum article implies the reasons are clear: firearms.
The NEJM letter states the increase in firearm related mortality among people aged 1-19, from 2019 to 2020, was 29.5%.
The increase in national firearm numbers from 2019 to 2020 was about 441 million, to about 462 million, an increase of about 5%. It is difficult to believe a 5% increase in firearms resulted in a 29.5% increase in firearm related mortality.
Increases in the number of firearms have not correlated with increases in the number of firearms related deaths, particularly firearms related homicides, which make up over 80% of the increase noted above.
Why the research cited in the NEJM letter defines "children and adolescents" as people below the are of 20, is uncertain. People 18 - 19 are considered young adults, not children. The World Heath Organization (WHO) defines adolescents as somewhere between the ages of 10-19. The word is imprecise. Some people are considered adolescent up to 24 years old. The NEJM reference research may be using an abbreviated WHO definition.
The legal definition of a child is less than 18 years old. It seems appropriate, as many firearms laws differentiate between legal adults and children.
Including 18 and 19 year olds in the firearm related death categories almost doubles the number of deaths, from 2,281 to 4,368.
If the firearm related deaths are examined closely, it becomes obvious; certain cultural groups have high homicide rates among young people. Other cultural groups have higher suicide rates among old people. Most of the homicides and suicides in both cultural groups are among males.
It is not clear that legal access to firearms increases or decreases either suicide or homicide in either group. What effects there may be are small and difficult to measure.
Cultural attitudes toward homicide and suicide appear to have large effects, which are easily measured.
Opinion:
To reduce homicide and suicide levels, the focus should be on education and attitudes, instead of firearms.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
MO: Private Security Firm Claims Self Defense in Kansas City Shooting
Kile told police the victim became agitated and yelled an expletive, according to the court documents. The victim eventually got out of the vehicle as Kile ordered him to the ground as they waited for police and Kile said he was pointing his weapon at the victim as the victim exited the vehicle, according to the documents.
That's when Kile told police the victim ran at him in a threatening manner and attempted to grab Kile's firearm, according to court documents. Kile told police he feared for his life and backpedaled away from the victim approximately 15 feet, according to the documents. Kile said he fell backward, as he was moving away and fired two rounds striking the victim, in his statement to police.
WA: Armed Woman Shoots Man who Threatened Employees with a Knife
Police say a 45-year-old man, who brandished a knife, threatened workers at the Quality Inn and Suites Tacoma in the 8800 block of South Hosmer Street around 11:45 p.m.
A 32-year-old female employee shot the man, who was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was shot in the left abdomen, according to the police scanner. The woman called 911 claiming she shot someone outside and the victim was still moving on the ground.
Saturday, May 07, 2022
Will Elon Musk Change Twitter's Ban on Advertising for Weapons?
Elon Musk 14 April, 2022 by Steve Jurvetson CC 2.0
Will Elon Musk change Twitter's political policy on banning advertisements for anything they percieve as a weapon? The list is broad and purely political.
Elon Musk has been making headlines with his aquisition of Twitter. Twitter has become famous for taking sides during the 2020 election by banning the New York Post, after it released the bombshell article about the Hunter Biden laptop and Biden family corruption. After the election, they banned sitting President Donald Trump.
Some surveys have claimed the ban on the news of Biden family corruption allowed President Biden to take the presidency. Some polls show the difference was more than enough to swing the election. Many voters have said they would have voted against Biden if they had known, before the election, what we know now. The information was suppressed and hidden by Twitter and other media outlets.
Elon Musk says he wants Twitter to become a bastion of free speech for everyone, barring only content which is illegal. From Elon Musk on Twitter:
By “free speech”, I simply mean that which matches the law.
I am against censorship that goes far beyond the law. If people want less free speech, they will ask government to pass laws to that effect.
Therefore, going beyond the law is contrary to the will of the people.
Elon Musk is in the process of purchasing Twitter. He has said he is a free speech absolutist. He has not yet taken control of the company. Control may not be transferred until October of 2022.
The Twitter Woke policy prohibition on the advertisement of "weapons" is absolutist and absurd. From Twitter.com:
Twitter prohibits the promotion of weapons and weapon accessories globally.
Examples of weapons and weapon accessories include:
- Guns, including airsoft guns, air guns, blow guns, paintball guns, antique guns, replica guns, and imitation guns
- Gun parts and accessories, including gun mounts, grips, magazines, and ammunition
- Rental of guns (other than from shooting ranges)
- Stun guns, taser guns, mace, pepper spray, or other similar self defense weapons
- Swords, machetes, and other edged/bladed weapons
- Explosives, bombs, and bomb making supplies and/or equipment
- Fireworks, flamethrowers, and other pyrotechnic devices
- Knives, including butterfly knives, fighting knives, switchblades, disguised knives, and throwing stars
Probably over half the earth's population understands that weapons have utililty, as they have for all of man's existence. It is an extreme policy to claim that weapons, even toy weapons, collector's weapons, tools, knives, and self-defense items which are legal in the vast majority of countries, are somehow "bad" and should not be allowed to be advertised.
It is hubris on the part of Twitter of a high order.
Prohibiting the advertisement of weapons, especially to the absurd degree found in current Twitter policy, is taking an extreme side in a political debate.
In the United States, there is the Second Amendment. Twitter's policy is an implicit statement the Second Amendment is a political error. In 2020 and 2021, the purchase of firearms alone (excluding other items banned by the Twitter policy) hit record levels, with record levels of new gun purchasers.
Nearly 40 million private guns were added to the American stock, with about 14 million new gun owners.
Analysis:
Elon Musk has shown he understands the utility of weapons, as he has donated the use of Starlink to Ukraine to aid in its defense. He claims to have thwarted efforts by Russia to hack and take down the Starlink system.
If Elon Musk is consistent with his free speech absolutism, the ban on the advertisement of legal weapons will be removed as Twitter policy.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
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